Pregnancy after stillbirth/prem labour - NHS care

[Dildals]

I was wondering whether I would get different care if I were to fall pregnant again, i.e. an early scan or perhaps more scans, or an appt with an obstetrician.

Anyone any experience with this?

Ta x

Sorry for your loss

I had a stillbirth in feb and am currently 24 weeks pg.

I had a scan at 6 weeks, one at 9 weeks, 12 and 20 weeks. From 26 weeks they will be scanning me every other week and I have consultant led care. I have had to fight for the extra care but I (hopefully) will get it all.

Have you had a post mortem? Usually at the results appointment the consultant will attend and talk through the care you will receive should you get pg again x

Sorry for you loss Dildals.

It really depends on how far along you lost your baby. And also, if known, on the reason for losing the baby. For example, if it was a genetic cause or a problem with the placenta then they take it more seriously as these are things that can reoccur.

Some obstetricians will be of the opinion that one incidence of unexplained prem labour or still birth is not a reason to justify CLC as it is highly unlikely to happen again. That doesn't stop you worry like hell though

If you fall pregnant again, you need to have this discussion from the very start with your midwife. All the best OP.

Hi Dildals I am so sorry you find yourself in this situation

We lost our daughter (first baby) at 40+2 last July after a completely normal and healthy pregnancy. I am currently 37 weeks with our rainbow and am due for induction next Saturday at 38 weeks. I guess it depends on your trust and maybe on the point and cause of your loss but our trust have been. fab and we have had consultant led care. The consultant did the 12 and 20 weeks scans personally a and I have had a lot of support from my community midwife. I have actually just got back from my local birth centre where they very kindly listened to the heart beat for us so DH could hear it, just to help us through this last week.

Like Ducky when we met the Consultant for the post mortem results there was a lot of focus at this meeting as to how future pregnancies would be handled so we left feeling like there really was hope x

How did you manage to get a 6 wk scan ducky? Did you just go to your local EPU?

We did have a post mortem, but I can't specifically remember the care for a next pregnancy being discussed. I do remember him saying that if I would want a CS they would be amenable to that. I don't want to go back to that hospital though, too many bad memories…

The prem labour is not likely to happen again, according to the obstetrician, but that doesn't mean it won't happen again. It's managing the mental stress of it all most of all, rather than just a pure clinical issue.

My midwife arranged tht for me. I just called her when I got my BFP and she was ace, she does most of my appointments at home and sorts out my extra scans etc.

My 6 week was at the EPU

Wow. I didn't really have 'a midwife' unfortunately, it's all shared services here.

I guess the options are to either call my bereavement mw, rock up to the EPU myself or call the GP (they can do referrals as well I'd imagine). Hmm.

So sorry for your loss.

In my area you also do not have an assigned MW. Everyone I know who has had any complications at all in their previous pregnancy (apart from those who have had fewer than 3 miscarriages) have been offered consultant lead care in subsequent ones. Some have had just an initial consultation, then referred back to MW lead care with an open appointment to see a n obstetrician if required. Others have stayed consultant lead. 2 who had still born babies were consultant lead all the way through.

I think in your case it would be worth at the very least seeing your GP asap after a BFP, and perhaps having a chat with her before even getting pregnant. Also, check your local hospital website. Mine allows you to self refer by email, which speeds things up considerably. Depending on the cause of what happened to your baby it might be worthwhile being soon earlier than the standard 10 weeks (or whatever it is now). There is some evidence that extra scans in worried mothers are beneficial in themselves.